ESP-97 of Desafío Español arrives at Port America's Cup
Despite the pouring rain that has been falling over Valencia for the last two days, Desafío Español "paraded" their brand new boat, ESP-97, through Valencia's main avenues. The Spanish "rocket" left the King Marine boatyard at around 10am and after a shortened route due to the intense rain and traffic it reached the green base in Port America's Cup at around noon.
My surprise, and everybody else's waiting for the boat at the first stop, was to see the bow. At first we all thought it was an illusion but then when the hull was passing in front of us it was all clear. ESP-97 has a bowsprit! This being the America's Cup, incredulous photographers and journalists asked team members present whether this was just a "fake" paper bowsprit only to receive angry glances.
What is also interesting is the statement of Agustín Zulueta, general manager of the Spanish syndicate, that ESP-97 is a yacht "optimized for winds between 10 and 14 knots". Concerning the plan for the near future, Zulueta is confident the boat can be put on water during the third week of January in order to carry out the first structural tests. Once these test prove to be successful, sailing could begin early February. The official christening of ESP-97 will take place in March.
ESP-97 in front of one of Valencia's main squares. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Closeup of the bow of ESP-97. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
ESP-97 in front of Valencia's opera house. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
The stern of ESP-97. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
ESP-97 entering Port America's Cup. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Closeup of the stern of ESP-97. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
End of the journey, ESP-97 enters the Desafío Español base. The shore crew will now take over in order to have her ready in about a month. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
The bowsprit of ESP-97 from upclose. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingVideo of ESP-97 transportation through Valencia
Labels: Desafío Español, ESP-97
2 Comments:
seems like the latest AC yachts have similar lines in the stern- very sharp radius, with very slab sides and flat bottoms.
And unless the packing is making the bow exaggerated, I think Team China is going to be upset that their bow is not so different after-all.
the different pictures and in particular DSC 6245a show an inacceptable and very deep hollow in the foreward part of the hull, which proved that this bow is a kake. never one have seen a so rough, big and fixed (must be removable) bowsprit. i think the bow of esp97 is very similar from esp88.
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